I’m a Lucky Guy by Bruce Tirado, Father of CAA Student Ariel Tirado

April 10, 2019

I’m a lucky guy, lovely wife ✔, good son ✔, & sweet daughter ✔, let me share some of my lucky story with you, regarding the youngest in my family. Ariel joined our family nearly 21 yrs ago, and was a pretty cool, calm & well collected little gal upon arrival. Maria & I, were not so calm, but eventually we all settled in. I never expected my daughter to be such a force, to have so much life, laughter & joy, she makes me laugh every day, and smile, and wonder, and generally feel quite cheerful, whenever I am in her orbit. Ariel knows how to have fun, I don’t think there is room for a word such as “mundane”, in her vocabulary. Just walking along, seemed to be a party, with this young lady (photographic evidence follows).

In addition to being a proud member of the CAA student body, Ariel is a “Make-A-Wish” gal. Yup she took her entire family to Disneyland …. Ooops, I mean DisneyWorld, (her “Wish”) & so it was her treat, she flew our entire family out to Florida, put us up at a resort, had her own spending cash, and a fun time was had by all, for a solid week. So not only did Ariel fight off cancer (A Complete Success), she took, her entire family, out on vacation along the way. I love my Ariel, she is a kind gentle young lady, and her CAA community means the world to her, our entire family, appreciates the CAA community very much. I sometimes say to Ariel I am her friend, and she says…. Nope,,,, I’m her father,,, I think I want to also be part of her community of friends, as her friends mean so very much to her. CAA, means allot to Ariel, and Maria & I. I’m so glad Maria met DeAnna & Pam those many years ago, we have enjoyed seeing Ariel blossom, with her community of friends, seeing the students, explore all their talents. Ariel truly enjoys performance arts, and CAA has been a great experience…. Congratulations to the CAA Community, it’s been quite an excellent ride, 10yrs of Excellence, I/we are looking forward to the next 10.


Signed,



Ariel’s Dad (One of my very best titles)

By DeAnna Pursai May 25, 2026
When Samuel Hinojosa first discovered his passion for videography and the performing arts, a passion he says is in his genes because he has family who are also in the arts, participating in theater productions and expressing himself through dance became a part of his daily routine. But when he turned 22, he suddenly aged out of the programs he had come to love, leaving a gap in both his routine and his creative outlet. That’s when a chance meeting completely changed his life. Samuel was in an Angels on Stage production when he just so happened to meet DeAnna Pursai and Dr. Pamela Lindsay in the audience. Realizing he was about to age out of Angels on Stage, they encouraged him to explore the opportunities available to him at CAA. Their guidance led him to finding a new beginning. At CAA, Samuel quickly found a place where he could continue to grow creatively. He enrolled in videography, acting, and dance classes, reconnecting him with his passion for performing. After taking many performing arts classes, Samuel started exploring what other classes CAA had to offer. He has joined the CAA Go Green Climate Action Class, where he did a phenomenal presentation on UNESCO and how climate change is impacting his native roots community in Mexico. Now in his second semester at CAA, Samuel has expanded his interests beyond just the stage and production lens. He’s developed an interest in bodybuilding and nutrition, exploring what those classes can teach him and how he can use that new confidence to improve his life. CAA’s supportive environment has allowed Samuel to continue exploring his passions, while also discovering new ones. It doesn’t matter if he is behind the camera, performing, or focusing on his health and fitness goals, CAA is constantly pushing Samuel to try new things and grow. For Samuel, CAA is not just a place for him to take classes, it is a community where he can express himself, try new things, and keep moving forward. — Written by Nina Pal Volunteer
By DeAnna Pursai May 18, 2026
CAA's Director of the School of Communications

Subscribe to our mailing list

Are you a current family looking for Weekly Updates? Sign into the student portal or subscribe to our weekly email list.

Subscribe

Share